“that I may reveal it as I ought to speak.”

There are times when our attitude may not be right and we lack love towards other people and speak out of turn or out of tone. Paul asks for prayer that this will not be true of him. 

He also seeks to have the ability to share the gospel fully and openly to show the whole message of God and His plan for sinful people. Paul seeks the confidence that comes from God to preach the gospel with the authority that it should have. Nothing must be hidden or apologetically explained, but put forward as the Word of God and the only way for the forgiveness of sins and the daily walk of fellowship with the Lord. 

There are times when we can be over-awed by our audience and intimidated by the people we are around, and so we soft-pedal the message, not wishing to offend. We must fight the urge to water down the gospel so that it is more acceptable to the fallen human psyche. We are not to hide any part of it, or save ourselves from the embarrassment of giving negative information. We need to reveal the gospel as it is portrayed for us in the holy scripture and preach it from the scripture. 

The classic side-step is the reality of the punishment of God to all those who refuse to repent and believe. It is very offensive to the human mind that God should have that kind of right over us. We believe and are taught in self-determination and the fact that God is in control, offends us greatly. We need to ask for the courage and strength to stick to the message and not be put off by social considerations. Losing friends is a distinct possibility but you will have told them the truth and God will ensure the sharing of His Word will bless and save the lost. 

As the message is revealed in the Scripture so we reveal it to others around us, and especially those who preach it from the front. 

“For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don’t preach the Good News.”

1 Corinthians 9:16

The messenger of the Lord is compelled to preach the Good News of the gospel in all its glory and fulness. There are warnings against not sounding out this aspect of warning to people, about the wrath of God to come against all who wickedly refuse salvation. 

“When I tell the wicked, You shall surely die; and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at your hand. Yet if you warn the wicked, and he doesn’t turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.”

Ezekiel 3:18-19

This is the warning against not sounding out the warning! We are naturally reticent to do so, but the Lord will help us at the right time and in the right way as the Apostle has prayed for.